Historically Low Turnout Expected In Senate Election

BOSTON The state’s top elections official says all indications point to an historically low voter turnout for the special U.S. Senate election.

Secretary of State William Galvin says he expects no more than 1.6 million of the state’s approximately 4.3 million eligible voters to cast ballots Tuesday in the contest between Democrat Ed Markey and Republican Gabriel Gomez. That’s about 37 percent, which Galvin said would be the state’s lowest participation in any U.S. Senate election in modern times.

By contrast, more than 2.25 million voters cast ballots in the 2010 special election to succeed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. That race was won by Republican Scott Brown.

Galvin says there appears to be far less interest in the current race, based on factors including absentee ballots and inquiries to his office.